Felony Murder: A Miscarriage of Justice

The Injustice of Felony Murder Charges

Felony murder laws remain one of the most unjust aspects of our criminal justice system. Instead of focusing on intent, they punish individuals for deaths that occur during the commission of a crime—even when they had no role in causing the death. Whether a person was directly involved or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, the outcome is the same. As a result, people receive life sentences for actions they never committed.

The Flaws of Felony Murder Laws

At their core, felony murder laws ignore context. They fail to distinguish between someone who actively causes a death and someone who is merely present. Because of this, innocent people have been convicted and condemned to life in prison for tragedies they never intended. Rather than serving justice, these laws perpetuate suffering and extend unfair punishment.

The Human Cost: Families and Justice

True justice means accountability, but punishing the wrong person creates only more harm. Felony murder laws devastate families on both sides—those of the victim and those of the accused. Innocent bystanders become collateral damage, forced into life sentences for events they did not cause. In the end, justice is denied, and pain multiplies.

What We Can Do

• Advocate for felony murder reform: Demand that sentences be fair and proportional to the actual level of involvement in a crime.
• Support legal aid for those wrongly convicted under felony murder laws.
• Educate others about the flaws in the system and why reform is needed.

Call to Action

Join the fight for justice reform and fair sentencing. Your voice can make a difference in changing these flawed laws. Link to petition.

Want to go deeper?

Listen to 2 Dorrs Down —a podcast by Toby and Chris Dorr dedicated to ending the felony murder rule. Through powerful stories, shocking truths, and the voices of those directly impacted, each episode sheds light on this unjust law and what we can do to change it.